By Chris Todd Torquay United defender

I'm doing so well that my doctor says that if it keeps going the way it is I may be able to resume full-contact training in the next couple of weeks

Well, seven days on, and I've had even better news.

The count of the bad white blood cells in my body has plummeted to 10.5. Last week it was 46 and the week before 146 so the Glivek tablets that I am taking are certainly doing the trick.

The count is now down to almost normal levels, with the average person having between four and 10 bad cells in their count.

I'm doing so well that my doctor says that if it keeps going the way it is I may be able to resume full-contact training in the next couple of weeks.

All I have to do is get a scan on my spleen, and if that has returned to a normal size I can start training again. I've not been allowed to train in a contact situation as the leukaemia had meant my spleen has enlarged in size and any knock might have caused me some serious damage.

When the doctor told me the news I had a shiver down my spine. I hope that if it all goes well I might be able to start playing in the next month. You've got to give yourself sighters and that's my aim.

The only problem I have at the moment is water retention in my legs which is quite uncomfortable in the night - and not just for me - I've kicked the living daylights out of my missus with it - it's been a nightmare!

I'll take a couple of weeks off training to try and settle down it down and hopefully after that I'll be fine.

On the pitch the lads did tremendously well to beat Histon 4-1 on Saturday at Plainmoor.

At the end of the day we had to win because all the results went against us. It was a must-win game and the lads really performed well. We've got to keep winning and they really did that.

After the match everyone was buzzing. The gaffer was happy because he wants to do well in every game, and as they're one of our main rivals he was even more pleased.

I wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas and a great New Year. Hopefully I'll be back wearing the yellow shirt of the Gulls soon and maybe I'll see some of you at Plainmoor. Chris Todd

There was that added pressure because if we'd have lost people would have questioned us and our credentials to be up at the top of the table.

It's a little marker and makes the other teams remember that we're still involved.

That's about all for this week, and this year. I wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas and a great New Year. Hopefully I'll be back wearing the yellow shirt of the Gulls soon and maybe I'll see some of you at Plainmoor.

Chris Todd was talking to BBC South West's Brent Pilnick.

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